INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1123, 17 July 1913, Page 4

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

EMPLOYERS AWAKE

LABOUR’S AGGRESSION,

NEED FOR UNION IN COMMON CAUSE.

The subject of iudnstrial disturbances in New Zealand was discussed at considerable length in the annual report of the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association, read at the annual meeting of the association last week.

In presenting the report, the executive expressed regret at what was termed the continued discontent and unrest which still existed amongst a certain class of workers throughout the Dominion, and which, under ill-advised leadership, was gradually, but surely retarding all industrial enterprise, and causing those who possessed the necessary means for the de velopmeut of the country’s splendid resources to seek investment of their capital in other channels, and was also, to a large extent, diverting available capital from other countries away from New Zealand.

Continuing, the report said that the propaganda of syndicalism, socalled socialism, and defiance of all constitutional law and order, which was disseminated broadcast by the militant leaders of the organisation now known as “The Red Federation of Labour,” if unchecked, would surely bring about industrial and commercial chaos, and would ultimately cause needless distress to the whole of the workers themselves, their wives, and families. There could be no question as to the fact that a very large majority of the bonafide and rational workers of the Dominion were strongly opposed to the lawless and aggressive altitude adopted, and the time was fast approaching when they would realise their responsibility, and, firmly supported by their employers and the general public, they would flatly refuse to be further exploited, and would insist upon any grievance or disabilities which might exist being set right by lawful and constitutional methods.

Although during the past year several salutary lessons had been experienced by the blind followers of those who advocated strikes and encouraged the adoption of revolutionary tactics in preference to the rational and peaceable methods provided by law for the settlement of matters in dispute between workers and their respective employers, strikes, of a more or less serious nature, with their attendant misery to a majority of the workers and their wives and children directly concerned, still obtained, and the industrial welfare, together with the commercial and general progress of the country, was being continuously impeded thereby. In the opinion of the association’s executive the time had now arrived when both employers of labour and the general public throughout the Dominion must unite in one common cause, and firmly resist any further aggressiveness on the part of “The Red Federation” and other upholders of the tenets propounded by its leaders.

In this connection it was contended that stringent amendments should be made in the clauses of tte Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act relative to strikes, and it was urged that a clause should be inserted in the Act making it strictly prohibitive for any strike to take place unless so determined by a secret ballot of all the affected workers, such ballot to be supervised by a Government officer duly appointed in that behalf. Furthermore, it was contended that legislation should be introduced compelling all trade unions, whether registered under the Act or otherwise, to establish a fund to enable employers suffering loss through strikes to recover damages in the law courts.